'Distressed' OFW accuses Philippine labor official of siding with employer

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Jeddah said on Wednesday that it would talk to its translator after it was alleged he misrepresented an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) accused of absconding by his employer. “We’ll call for the complainant and the POLO translator to meet so that we can find out who’s telling the truth,” Labor Attaché Vicente Cabe told Arab News on Wednesday. Thirty-one-year-old Felipe Montealto Jr., of Iloilo city south of Manila, had earlier complained to human rights group Migrante Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona claiming that the POLO translator misrepresented him in a case he had filed against his employer, who in turn accused him of absconding. In Saudi Arabia, absconding or running away from an employer or sponsor is considered an immigration offense and punishable by imprisonment and deportation. Montealto complained of breach of contract by his employer and unjustified salary deductions. He had been working for his employer as administrative assistant since August 2010. In a statement, Monterona said that Montealto and his lawyer appeared before the Saudi labor office on Nov. 28 to present documented evidence and argue his case. Monterona said during court proceedings, the POLO translator was assigned to assist Montealto. However, the POLO translator allegedly testified against Montealto. “My lawyer and I were surprised by his unexpected and ethical conduct, being a case translator,” Monterona quoted Montealto as saying. Montealto also said that he had not authorized the POLO translator to represent him, not even during court hearings. Monterona said the POLO translator’s actions “constituted betrayal of the interest of a distressed OFW he must protect and serve.” He added this was not the first time that he received complaints from distressed OFWs against the POLO translator concerned. “Montealto and Migrante are now consulting Saudi and Filipino lawyers for legal action to be taken against the POLO translator,” Monterona said. “We’ll ask the POLO case translator regarding the Filipino worker’s allegations.”